Sandra Oblitas, the Vice-President of the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE), reported that the special regulations for the gubernatorial elections of December 16 were passed on Wednesday. The regulations, she clarified, are like those of previous elections.

Oblitas pointed out that during electioneering, candidates may disseminate messages of up to three minutes on a daily basis on TV and four minutes on the radio. As for the press, candidates may use a page in tabloid newspapers and half page in standard newspapers.

She added that telephone contacts may be made only through SMS. Calls to handsets and mobile phones are banned. A top of three messages a week has been set.

With regard to the change of ballots to include General Henry Rangel Silva as a candidate for Trujillo state government, in the place and stead of Hugo Cabezas, Oblitas argued that pursuant to article 63 of the Organic Law of Electoral Processes, the CNE "must facilitate the information to voters, provided that no election tools have been issued."

Concerning migrations of government authorities who are not candidates in the election of December 16, such as Vice-President and Foreign Minister Nicolás Maduro, the CNE Vice-President said that the opposition Unified Democratic Panel (MUD) already made its pleadings at the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ). Therefore, there is the need to await the decision from the high court.